Meet Your Matcha – Green Tea

As a coffee lover and Crohn’s Colitis warrior, I must give up coffee to let my body heal. My guy stumbled upon this product while searching new things to eat and drink bevayse he’s going to participate in the diet with me.

After drinking it this afrernoon as the stand-in for my afternoon coffee, I feel the benefits almost immediately. I feel energized and focused, and ready to take on the emails that await me in my inbox.

Now heres the info about this that I’ve collected online:

A long standing tradition of Japanese culture (thanks, ma) Matcha Green Tea is the highest quality powdered green tea available. Made from the nutrient-rich young leaves picked from the tips of shade-grown Camellia sinensis plants, Matcha Green Tea is steamed, stemmed, and de-vined before being stone-ground into very fine powder.

Brought to you from my kitchen with Mighty Tea.

This miracle elixir has been consumed for over a millennium in the Far East, and is now considered to be one of the most powerful super foods on the market today.

Fresh, green tea leaves, ground to an ultra-fine powder with creamy body, vegetal flavor, and a hint of the sea. Green tea from Japan, Usucha Matcha is an elegant powdered tea made from the finest Japanese tencha and is commonly used in the traditional Japanese tea ceremony. Experience the Way of Tea or “Cha No Yu” as you whip up a frothy emerald green Matcha infusion. Usucha Matcha contains highly concentrated green tea vitamins, minerals, chlorophyll and the unique L-theanine amino acids found almost exclusively in green tea. Thick and concentrated, this precious green tea inspires focus and calm.

Health Benefits:

1. High in Antioxidants: We’ve all read this word before. Antioxidants are the magical nutrients and enzymes responsible for fighting against the negative effects of UV radiation, giving us younger-looking skin, and preventing a number of life-threatening maladies. Antioxidants are something that all health-conscious individuals seek from such foods as raw fruits, green veggies, and (let’s not forget) dark chocolate. The first amazing benefit of Matcha Green Tea is that just one bowl provides over 5 times as many antioxidants as any other food – the highest rated by the ORAC (oxygen radical absorbance capacity) method.

2. Loaded with Catechin, EGCg.: You may have already heard that not all antioxidants are created equal. Green tea contains a specific set of organic compounds known as catechins. Among antioxidants, catechins are the most potent and beneficial. One specific catechin called epigallocatechin gallate (EGCg) makes up 60% of the catechins in Matcha Green Tea. Out of all the antioxidants, EGCg is the most widely recognized for its cancer fighting properties. Scientists have found that Matcha Green Tea contains over 100 times more EGCg than any other tea on the market.

3. Enhances Calm: For over a millennium, Matcha Green Tea has been used by Chinese Daoists and Japanese Zen Buddhist monks as a means to relax and meditate while remaining alert. Now we know that this higher state of consciousness is due to the amino acid L-Theanine contained in the leaves used to make Matcha. L-Theanine promotes the production of alpha waves in the brain which induces relaxation without the inherent drowsiness caused by other “downers.”

4. Boosts Memory and Concentration: Another side-effect of L-Theanine is the production of dopamine and serotonin. These two chemicals serve to enhance mood, improve memory, and promote better concentration – something that can benefit everyone!

5. Increases Energy Levels and Endurance: Samurai, the noble warriors of medieval and early-modern Japan, drank Matcha Green Tea before going into battle due to the tea’s energizing properties. While all green tea naturally contains caffeine, the energy boost received from Matcha is largely due to its unique combination of other nutrients. The increased endurance from a bowl of Matcha Green Tea can last up to 6 hours and because of the effects of L-Theanine, Matcha drinkers experience none of the usual side-effects of stimulants such as nervousness and hypertension. It’s good, clean energy.

6. Burns Calories: Drinking Matcha Green Tea has also been shown to increase metabolism and help the body burn fat about four times faster than average. Again, unlike many diet aides currently on the market, Matcha causes no negative side-effects such as increased heart rate and high blood pressure.

7. Detoxifies the Body: During the last three weeks before tea leaves are harvested to be made into Matcha, Camellia sinensis are covered to deprive them of sunlight. This causes a tremendous increase in chlorophyll production in the new growth of these plants. The resulting high levels of chlorophyll in Matcha Green Tea not only give this tea its beautiful vibrant green color. Matcha is also a powerful detoxifier capable of naturally removing heavy metals and chemical toxins from the body.

8. Fortifies the Immune System: The catechins in Matcha Green Tea have been shown to have antibiotic properties which promote overall health. Additionally, just one bowl of Matcha Green Tea provides substantial quantities of Potassium, Vitamins A & C, Iron, Protein, and Calcium. Further studies have even suggested that the nutrients in Matcha may have the ability to inhibit the attacks of HIV on human T-cells.

9. Improves Cholesterol: Researchers aren’t entirely certain how Matcha Green Tea has such a positive effect on cholesterol, however studies of different populations have show that people who drink Match Green Tea on a regular basis have lower levels of LDL (bad) cholesterol while at the same time displaying higher levels of HDL (good) cholesterol. Men who drink Matcha Green Tea are about 11% less likely to develop heart disease than those who don’t drink Matcha.

Do you have a Matcha recipe to share or on the ReFresh Diet for GI issues? Send it to me to share on my blog, via email: Bella@BellaOfLouisville.com

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I'm a 30-something Louisville dweller and aficionado. I am a creative optimist dedicated to helping others through my talents and skills both professionally and philanthropically. This blog serves as the space I've curated to be the home of my writing with a broad range of topics as I blog my way through life, love, and the city of Louisville.